Database of Generated Rock Microstructures and their Computed Geometrical and Hydraulic Properties

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Geology
• Computational Science

Background:

• Material properties are strongly linked to microstructural features.
• Heterogeneities in rock microstructures cause cross-correlations, complicating the isolation of individual feature influences.
• Minkowski functionals (MFs) offer a robust method for quantifying microstructural features.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a curated, open-source dataset of microstructures with controlled variations.
• To enable targeted analysis of how specific microstructural features influence macroscopic properties.
• To support the development and validation of structure-property models.

Main Methods:

• Generated microstructures include random packings with varying grain shapes and cemented configurations.
• Computed Minkowski functionals (MFs) for each microstructure.
• Performed Stokes flow simulations to obtain macroscopic property data.

Main Results:

• The dataset offers controlled variation in particle shape and packing fraction, leading to a broader range of MFs.
• This controlled variation allows for the isolation and analysis of specific microstructural contributions.
• The dataset facilitates the study of structure-property relationships in porous materials.

Conclusions:

• The developed dataset provides a valuable resource for materials science and geosciences.
• It enables a more nuanced understanding of how microstructural details dictate macroscopic behavior.
• This work supports advancements in predictive modeling for materials with complex microstructures.